Control system for an electric motor

Abstract

A control system for an electric motor, the control system comprising a first control device arranged to control current in a first coil set of the electric motor and a second control device arranged to control current in a second coil set of the electric motor; wherein the first control device includes a first interface arrangement for receiving data from a first controller for allowing the first control device to determine a required current flow in the first coil set, wherein the first interface arrangement is arranged to communicate data to the second control device for allowing the second control device to determine a required current flow in the second coil set.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A control system for an electric motor, the control system comprising a first control device arranged to control current in a first coil set of the electric motor and a second control device arranged to control current in a second coil set of the electric motor;
 wherein the first control device includes a first interface arrangement for receiving data from a first controller for allowing the first control device to determine a required current flow in the first coil set, wherein the first interface arrangement is arranged to communicate data to the second control device for allowing the second control device to determine a required current flow in the second coil set, wherein the second control device includes a second interface arrangement for receiving data from the first controller for allowing the second control device to determine a required current flow in the second coil set, wherein the second interface arrangement is arranged to communicate data to the first control device for allowing the first control device to determine a required current flow in the first coil set. 
 
     
     
       2. A control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first interface arrangement includes a first interface arranged to communicate with the controller and a second interface arranged to communicate with the second control device. 
     
     
       3. A control system according to  claim 2 , wherein the second interface is arranged to communicate over a serial peripheral interface bus. 
     
     
       4. A control system according to  claim 2 , wherein the first interface is arranged to communicate over a CAN bus. 
     
     
       5. A control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the data received by the first control device corresponds to a torque value to be generated by the electric motor. 
     
     
       6. A control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second interface arrangement includes a third interface arranged to communicate with the controller and a fourth interface arranged to communicate with the first control device. 
     
     
       7. A control system according to  claim 6 , wherein the fourth interface is arranged to communicate over a serial peripheral interface bus. 
     
     
       8. A control system according to  claim 6 , wherein the third interface is arranged to communicate over a CAN bus. 
     
     
       9. A control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the data received by the second control device corresponds to a torque value to be generated by the electric motor.